DOH!
Less dangerous = MORE dangerous
I think the issues are different than what usually comes up. I’m sure there are women that could excel at any of the combat roles. But I don’t think that’s the main point. The real point for me is about whether -our nation- is really ready to have women fully engaged in combat and all that this means.
I think we as a nation are just not culturally ready for women in combat roles— in particular with regard to the unique risks for women when they are taken as POW’s. I would present the case of Private Jessica Lynch in Iraq as a powerful bit of evidence. America— our news media, politicians, talking heads, and the public— were clearly not emotionally prepared for the sensational nature of her and her companions’ capture by Iraqi forces. Apart from anything about her service or ability to perform in her job, the one thing that was glaringly obvious was that America wasn’t ready to cope with what happens (or may happen) to a pretty, photogenic girl in the hands of a cruel enemy mob. We (the royal “we”) freaked out. The focus on whether or not she was facing sexual abuse and rape was bordering almost on the pornographic and prurient— to the exclusion of almost everything else.
Q.E.D. — We’re not ready for it.